Study on the Influence of Urban Water Supply Pipeline Leakage on the Scouring Failure Law of Cohesive Soil Subgrade

Abstract

Urban water supply pipelines serve as vital lifelines for urban operations. However, the occurrence of underground pipeline leakage, caused by various factors, results in significant water loss and gives rise to safety hazards such as pavement collapse due to the erosive action of leaking water on the overlying soil. To conduct a more comprehensive investigation into the erosion characteristics of the leaking jet on the soil, this study employed a custom-built soil-test system to investigate the erosive effects of leakage from the water supply pipe network on the clay roadbed above. The study considered water flow rate, leakage port size, and leakage angle as influential factors. The experimental results demonstrated that reducing the water flow rate significantly enhances the soil’s erosion resistance. There is a positive correlation between the caliber of pipe leakage, pipe diameter, and the erosion rate of the soil cavity. Under identical conditions, the erosion rate of the specimen increased consistently with an increase in the leakage port angle. The study also investigated and summarized the curve depicting the formation of soil cavities. The aforementioned findings offer valuable insights for the implementation of reinforcement measures using fine-grained cohesive soil backfill in urban water supply pipelines.